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Wellington City Council announces reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

Wellington City Council announced today that Wellington’s gross greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 2.1% between 2001 and 2015. More details will be release in the Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory for Wellington City and the Greater Wellington Region later this week.

This is a result of more efficient electricity use and reduced solid waste heading into our landfills. The overall result is 24,760 tonnes CO2-e reduction per year.

Mayor Celia Wade-Brown says, “Wellingtonians have made good efforts in recent years and the positive result shows that the Capital is leading the way in mitigating our carbon emissions.”

This bodes well for Council’s ambitious target to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050 a target set in the 2016 Low Carbon Capital plan.

“Our Low Carbon Capital plan continues to grow programmes such as Smart Energy and Building Challenges and Warm Up Wellington and the Wellington 2050 Energy Calculator. These projects have been effective in reducing our carbon footprint and helped to focus on greening Wellington’s growth; changing the way we move, and leading by example,” says Mayor Wade-Brown.

Deputy Mayor Justin Lester will be speaking at the Royal Society of New Zealand to launch a new report, Transition to a low-carbon economy for New Zealand, 27 April, 9am-12pm.

Climate Change Portfolio Leader, David Lee says, “Wellington City Council’s Low Carbon Capital plan is vital to meet the challenges and grasp the opportunities ahead of us.”

The Low Carbon Capital plan sets ambitious science-based targets and shows that Council has invested in information that informs our planning, our greenhouse gas inventory and has achieved Certified Emissions Management and Reduction Scheme (CEMARS) certification.

Wellington is a climate centre of action, as an active member of the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities Network, and the global Compact of Mayors for Climate Change.

Wellington is also one of the only cities in the southern hemisphere to host a Climathon in partnership with Europe’s Climate-KIC and has promoted climate action between local government, entrepreneurial start-ups and large businesses.

Wellington has the highest active and public transport use in the country. In addition, Council has significant native forest cover and is on track to plant 2 million trees across the city by 2020.

Have your say and visit the Annual Plan Facebook page and register their attendance at Annual Plan 2016/17: Facebook sustainability virtual forum. You can also have your say until 29 April 2016 on our website.

ENDS

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